Our Brand Values: The Heart Behind Nyahallo
Nyahallo was born in 2021 from a desire to find a place where art and wearability coexist. As a 1.5-generation Asian immigrant and a plus-sized woman with a neurodivergent mind, I grew tired of an industry that often prioritizes mass-market templates over the individuals wearing them. I wanted to build something different: a sanctuary where creative expression doesn't come at the cost of a thoughtful fit.
For us, ethics isn’t a polished buzzword; it’s a cycle of respect. This starts with the quiet power of designing every silhouette from scratch, ensuring our artists' visions have a canvas that breathes and lasts. It continues through our choice of skin-safe fibers, and rejecting greenwashing narratives that often mask the material truth in favor of fabrics that truly honor your health.
Most importantly, this cycle honors every person involved; from the independent artists who share their vision, to the artisans who carefully stitch each seam, to the individuals who eventually welcome these pieces into their closets. We believe that for art to be truly beautiful, it must respect the hands that made it as much as the person wearing it.
We aren't here to sell you a fantasy of perfection. We’re here to offer originally designed wearable art that is as honest as it is whimsical: crafted with heart, built from the ground up, and designed to reflect the magic you already carry within you.
Our Approach to Ethical Practices and Sustainability Efforts
Fashion is one of the most polluting industries on the planet. That is a hard truth most brands try to hide behind "green" marketing and buzzwords. At Nyahallo, we’re done with the performative eco-drama and the guilt-based narratives used to distract from the facts: Every fiber, whether grown in soil or synthesized in a factory, comes with its own set of compromises.
We don’t promise "perfect" sustainability because, in this industry, it doesn't exist. Every brand has an environmental footprint, and every fabric choice has consequences. At Nyahallo, our goal is to provide the best possible version of an artist's vision at a fair, transparent cost. This means choosing skin-safe materials you’ll actually want to wear and maintaining a production process that values human dignity over high margins. When you buy a Nyahallo piece, you are supporting a cycle of respect that includes the artist, the maker, and YOURSELF.
At Nyahallo, sustainability is a work of continual improvements. We currently minimize waste through small-batch production and a careful selection of durable, skin-safe fibers. Looking forward, our next step is the implementation of fully compostable custom packaging. We believe in creating with intent, ensuring that every piece has a purpose and a home instead of contributing to the cycle of disposable fashion.
At Nyahallo, sustainability is a work of continual improvements. We currently minimize waste through small-batch production and a careful selection of durable, skin-safe fibers. Looking forward, our next step is the implementation of fully compostable custom packaging. We believe in creating with intent, ensuring that every piece has a purpose and a home instead of contributing to the cycle of disposable fashion.
₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚
Slow & Small-Batch Production
We don’t just make "products"; we make wearable art. Every Nyahallo piece features unique, one-of-a-kind designs created by independent artists. Because these are artist-driven works, we refuse to treat them like disposable fast fashion. We believe that a unique creative vision deserves a canvas that lasts. By matching the soul of the artwork with high-quality construction and thoughtful material choices, we ensure the designs you love stay vibrant and wearable for years, not weeks.
Nyahallo is the antithesis of fast fashion. Our ethical commitment is built into our architecture: we design every garment from scratch, starting with the raw fabric and the pure vision of an artist. We don’t buy mass-produced 'blanks' or catalog templates and slap a print on them; we create each piece from the very beginning to serve as a specific canvas for a unique creative work. This 'ground-up' process gives us total control over the fit, the quality, and the integrity of the construction.
By producing only in limited quantities, we ensure we never have 'deadstock' or excess inventory. We create with intent, ensuring that every artist-designed piece has a purpose and a home rather than contributing to the waste that ends up in a landfill.
Wearability First: Wearability is the highest form of sustainability. A shirt that ends up in a landfill after a few washes is a failure, regardless of the fabric. We prioritize construction that lasts, and if an issue ever arises, we’re committed to making it right. Our goal isn't just to sell you a garment; it's to provide a piece that stays with you.
Fair Human Stakes: We partner with small-scale manufacturers who provide safe conditions and fair wages. We believe the people sewing your clothes are just as important as the person wearing them.
As a moderately priced brand, we strive to offer the best possible version of our artists' visions at a price that reflects real-world value. Our aim is to deliver unique, one-of-a-kind garments you’ll genuinely adore, at a cost that respects every hand in the process. This means ensuring everyone in our production chain is paid a fair, livable wage and that our small-batch methods remain inherently sustainable by design. From the independent artists and designers to the artisans stitching the seams, we prioritize a path that honors both human dignity and the health of our planet; delivering art that respects the maker, the environment, and YOU.
₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚
Thoughtful Fabric Choices
There is no such thing as a 'perfect' fabric. We won’t use moral language to justify a price tag, and we won’t pretend plastic becomes "ethical" just because it’s recycled. While other brands try to sell you overpriced plastic wrapped in 'eco-friendly' marketing, we trade those fantasies for material reality. We focus on what actually works for your skin and lasts in your closet. We prioritize skin-friendly comfort and lasting quality because the most ethical garment is the one you love wearing so much it never ends up in a landfill.
Natural Fibers: Biodegradable and breathable, but require significant land and water resources to produce.
Synthetic Fibers: Durable and versatile, but derived from fossil fuels and shed microplastics.
Recycled Synthetics: Repurpose waste, but involve heavy chemical processing and break the circular recycling loop.
Our Approach to Cotton
We choose cotton because your skin can tell the difference. While the industry struggles with the water footprint of natural fibers, we mitigate our impact by selecting OEKO-TEX or GOTS-certified sources. For us, the benefits are non-negotiable: cotton is biodegradable, free of microplastics, and provides a natural breathability that makes it the better choice for your body. We believe it is one of the best fibers available when handled with integrity.
The Truth About Recycled Polyester (rPET)
You’ve likely seen recycled polyester (rPET) marketed as a total solution to fashion’s waste problem, with many brands use the "recycled" tag as a shield against criticism. Here is the reality behind the marketing:
It’s Just Downcycling: Most rPET comes from plastic bottles, which could have been recycled back into bottles indefinitely. Once they are turned into a shirt, that cycle ends. A garment is almost impossible to recycle again, meaning rPET is just a slower path to the landfill.
Chemical Intensity & the Impact on Your Skin: Turning solid plastic into soft fiber isn't "natural." It requires intensive heat, chemical baths, and mechanical re-spinning. Many synthetic fabrics are treated with chemicals like PFAS (forever chemicals), phthalates, and bisphenols (BPA/BPS). Research (including studies from the Endocrine Society) shows these can mimic or block hormones, potentially leading to reproductive and developmental issues.
The skin is your largest organ. When you sweat, the pores open, and the skin can absorb small amounts of the chemical treatments found in synthetic fibers. Would you really want that in your skin?
The skin is your largest organ. When you sweat, the pores open, and the skin can absorb small amounts of the chemical treatments found in synthetic fibers. Would you really want that in your skin?
The Microplastic Reality: Recycled or not, it’s still plastic. Every time an rPET garment is washed, it sheds microplastics into our oceans exactly like virgin polyester.
Our Philosophy: We don't claim to be impact-free, but aim to be thoughtful with our fabric choices in order to prioritize making beautiful garments that last for years, not seasons, because the most sustainable item is the one already in your closet. We do that by prioritizing natural, skin-safe materials over synthetics whenever possible. Plastic is still plastic, no matter how it’s rebranded. We use it only when design requires it, and we’re transparent about why. We don’t believe in rebranding plastic as a miracle fiber or using guilt-based marketing to downplay your intelligence. While others try to sell you a fantasy, we stick to the reality: plastic is plastic, and honesty is the only thing that actually makes a brand ethical. We don't just want our clothes to look good as art; we want them to be a safe, healthy canvas for your body. We aren't perfect, but we are making deliberate, thoughtful choices every day to do right by YOU.
Our Philosophy: We don't claim to be impact-free, but aim to be thoughtful with our fabric choices in order to prioritize making beautiful garments that last for years, not seasons, because the most sustainable item is the one already in your closet. We do that by prioritizing natural, skin-safe materials over synthetics whenever possible. Plastic is still plastic, no matter how it’s rebranded. We use it only when design requires it, and we’re transparent about why. We don’t believe in rebranding plastic as a miracle fiber or using guilt-based marketing to downplay your intelligence. While others try to sell you a fantasy, we stick to the reality: plastic is plastic, and honesty is the only thing that actually makes a brand ethical. We don't just want our clothes to look good as art; we want them to be a safe, healthy canvas for your body. We aren't perfect, but we are making deliberate, thoughtful choices every day to do right by YOU.
₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚
Wearable Art for Everyone
Our founder and chief designer, Jen, created Nyahallo through the lens of someone feeling like an outsider. As a neurodivergent, 1.5-generation Asian immigrant and plus-size woman, Jen spent years searching for her place in a fashion industry that rarely offered designs for people with her background and body type. Jen experienced firsthand how difficult it was to find beautiful, high-quality clothing outside of standard sizing. She chose to stop waiting for traditional fashion to become more inclusive and started building her own alternative. Seeing a clear gap in the market for artistic fashion that actually fits, she founded Nyahallo in 2021. By constructing every piece from the very beginning, she ensured that quality art and a functional fit were no longer mutually exclusive.
For Jen, inclusivity isn’t a buzzword or a marketing metric; it’s a lived reality. It’s a fundamental part of how she views the world and a non-negotiable part of how she builds this brand. We believe that Nyahallo is for everybody.
For Jen, inclusivity isn’t a buzzword or a marketing metric; it’s a lived reality. It’s a fundamental part of how she views the world and a non-negotiable part of how she builds this brand. We believe that Nyahallo is for everybody.
Designed with Heart
We reject the idea of a universal aesthetic. Nyahallo serves as a sanctuary for self-expression, embracing the beautiful variety of the individual. Whether your style is ethereal, surreal, or purposefully 'weird,' you belong here. We aim to cater to every aesthetic by designing something for everyone. We don’t dictate your identity; we simply offer the wearable art that matches your vision. From the first sketch to the final stitch, everything we release is designed with heart.
Loved by You
We don't believe in forcing one design onto every body. Standardized industry templates often result in poor fits and erased identities, so we do things differently. We recognize that every body is unique, and a single pattern isn't enough to represent that variety. Because we understand that a single pattern can’t speak for everyone, we focus on creating a wide range of styles and silhouettes. Our goal is to create whimsical, varied designs that you will genuinely love and wear, no matter who YOU are.